Anticheating device



Sept. 23, 1952 J. c. KOCI 2,611,839

ANTICHEATING DEVICE Filed on. 24, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 IN VEN TOR.

3 f Z Mfr/y 194/ A? A W KM J. C. KOCI ANTICHEATING DEVICE Sept. 23, 1952 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed 001;. 24, 1950 Patented Sept. 23, 1952 UNITED STATES 2,611,839 ANTICHEATING nnvron Jerry C. Koci, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Chicago Coin Machine Company, Chicago, lll., a corporation of Illinois Application October 24, 1950, Serial No. 191,742

2 Claims.

This invention relates to anti-cheating devices for use in game apparatuses in which a metal playing piece is used in the playing of the game and it is to prevent the fraudulent energization of a score registering circuit.

An object of the invention is the provision of an arrangement of the character hereinafter described which will be highly effective for the purposes intended and of a more simplified and economical structure than anti-cheating devices heretofore employed.

My invention is particularly adaptable for use in simulated bowling games in which a puck is manually propelled over the playing field toward one of several target switches. Such game apparatuses are now extensively in use. It is an object of my invention to arrange upon such playing field in the path of movement of said pucks toward, said target switches, an anti-cheating device including normally open cutout switches adapted to be closed wheneve any fraudulent attempt is made to energize the score registering circuit of the game apparatus.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing, the preferred form of construction, and in which: I

Fig. l is a perspective view of the anti-cheating device embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially on line 3-'3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view similar to Fig. 3 showing the movement of pucks over the playing field.

The several objects of my invention .are accomplished by the preferred form of construction shown in the accompanying drawings. Such construction comprises a mounting panel 18 mounted upon a playing field H at one end thereof. Over this playing field, in the direction of the arrow indicated in Figs. 1 and 4, the pucks are adapted to be manually propelled toward target switches (not shown) arranged to the rear of the mounting panel ill on the board II.

This panel I is of substantially rectangular formation and is supported above in spaced relation from the playing surface I2 of the board II by one or more parts I3 through which attaching screws 14 are projected for attaching the panel ill to the board i I.

This panel ID has formed therein along one longitudinal edge It) thereof an opening B5 of rectangular formation. Secured to the pane1 l0 as at i6 by means of spot welding or the like, are oppositely disposed supporting lugs ll. Journaled in these lugs I1 is a parallel with the adjacent edge of the panel It and transversely of the opening 15.

A gate IQ of flat rectangular shape is secured as at [5' to a mounting bar 20 having laterally extending lugs 2| perforated as at 22 for projection therethrough of the shaft iii whereby to connect the gate for oscillation with respect to the shaft. This gate 19 normally depends from the shaft IS in the path of movement of the pucks manually propelled over the playing surface 12. The gate [9 is yieldably maintained in this position with respect to the playing surface l2 by a spring 23 having one end portion connected as at 2i to one of the lugs l1 and an opposite end portion 25 connected to a lug 26 on the bar 20.

Mounted on the panel l0 adjacent the opening i5 is a switch structure 21 comprising spring fingers 23 and 28' having confronting contacts 29 manually disposed from contact with each other by the spring fingers 28 and 28'.

On the mounting bar 20 is provided a finger 3B which is adapted to engage the upper spring finger 28 whereby to move the contact of such finger into contact with the contact of the other spring finger 28 of the switch structure 21. This switch structure 2'! is incorporated in a conditioning relay circuit which conditions the score circuit for operation.

A fast moving puck over the playing surface l2 will pivot the gate l9 relative to the shaft it in the direction of the movement of the puck. As the puck will engage this gate with substantial force the inertia of the gate in the direction of movement of the puck will be such as to bear the finger 30 upon the upper spring leaf 28 to bring the contact thereof into contact with the other spring leaf 28 of the switch structure 21. The closing of this switch structure 21 will energize a conditioning relay circuit to permit registration of a score by the score registering circuit upon the closing of one or more of the target switches by the fast moving puck. If this switch is not closed to condition such conditioning circuit no registration of as core will be effected.

In attempting to fraudently energize the scoring circuit a player with such design might manually push the puck 3| to a position shown in Fig. 4. The thickness of the puck 3|, however, is not suflicient to pivot the gate the required distance so as to effect closing of the switch strucshaft l8 which extends ture 21 by the finger 30 and will therefore pass under the gate without closing th switch structure 21.

There are also formed in the pane l adjacent the rear edge 32 thereof, adjacent openings 33. Along the edges 34 of each of these openings 33 is fixed to the panel a mounting bracket 35 pivotally supporting an L-shaped arm 36. One end 31 of this arm 36 carries a magnet 38. The other end 39 of this arm bears against a spring finger 40 of a switch structure 4|, which finger is arranged in confronting relation with respect to a spring finger 42 of such switch structure. Each of these fingers have contacts 43 normally spaced from each other. This switch structure 4| is supported above the panel ID by a mounting bracket 44 having a laterally extending arm 45 which limits the pivotal action of the arm 36 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3 by the spring finger 40. Each of these switch structures is incorporated in a holding relay circuit of the score registering circuit of the game apparatus.

If one attempts to "fraudulently condition the score circuit by pushing a puck .31 through the medium of a long stick or the like over the playing surface l2, the slow moving puckwh'en beneath the magnet '38 will attract the magnet toward the 'puck, with the consequent result that the switch structure will be closed and a holding relay circuit (not shown) of the score registering circuit will be de-energized, thus preventing energization ofthe scoring circuitwhenthe target switch is closed by the slow moving puck.

In the normal play of the game, the puck will move with a speed over -the playing surface such as Will not attract the magnet '38s1iflidientlyto close the switch structure, with the consequence that the holding relay circuit of the -score registering circuit will not be de-energized.

One of the important features of my invention is the arrangement of parts whichare not effective under the "normal speed of movement of the puck over the playing surface but are only operative when 'the 'puck 'is "moved slowly over the playing surface in the "manner 'herein set forth.

The target switches (not shown) which may be of the roll-over type should be located on the board a -distance from the switch "structures 4| such that "they "will be closed by the puck before it leaves the area necessary to "attract the magnets 38.

I have not illustrated the circuit in which the switch structures are incorporated because such circuit forms no part of my invention. Any circuit may be employed in which "a conditioning relay or holding relay is used.

By the arrangement herein described toefiect energization of the scoring circuit "the pucks must move over the playing surface at a speed which is normal in the playing ofthe game and fast enough so as to close the switch structures 21 and not 4|.

,por'tion normally ,4 While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire -to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. An anti-cheat device for game apparatuses in which a playing piece is propelled over a playing surface ofa game board comprising a mounting structure arranged over and in spaced relation to the playing surface, a switch including confronting spring switch fingers arranged on said structure, a gate, means supporting the gate from said structure for pivotal movement relative to the playing surface and having a.

disposed in the path of aplaying piece over the surface, said gate having .a finger adapted to engage one of thespring fingers of said switch to close said switch, said gate being effective to move said gate finger to close said switch by a playing piece moving fast over said playing surface, said gate not being effective 'to move said gate finger to close said switch by a playing piece moving slowly over the playing surface.

"2. .An anti-cheat device for game apparatuses in which a playing piece is propelled over a playing surface of a game board comprising a mounting structure arranged over and inlspaced relation to the playing surface, a switch including confrontin spring switch fingers arranged on said structure, agate, means supporting the gate from said structure for pivotal movement relative to the playing surface and having a portion normally disposed in the path of a playing piece over the surface, said gate having a finger adapted .to engage one of the spring fingers of .said switch to close said switch, said gate being effective to move said gate finger to close said switch by a playing piece moving fast over said playing surface, said gate not being effective to move said gate finger to close said switch'by a p'laying piecemoving slowly over the playing surface and spring means yieldablyholding said gate in the path of movement of said playing pieces.

JERRY C. KOCI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

